The Lipscomb Bisons are back home for the first time since Sept. 1 as hosts of the Hyatt Place Select Tournament.

Plans are for the games Friday night and Sunday to be played at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex. Predicted rain problems could force a change in location.

The other teams in the tournament are Belmont, North Carolina-Asheville and Alabama A & M. Belmont (0-3-1) and Alabama A &M (1-5-0) will play tonight at 5 followed by the Bisons (2-2-1) and UNC-Asheville (1-4-1) at approximately 7:30.

“Asheville is a hard-working, blue-collar team,” said Lipscomb coach Charles Morrow. “They are going to fight for everything.”
Asheville lost 2-1 to USC-Upstate Wednesday. The Bisons are 2-1 overall against Asheville, winning last season 3-1.

Morrow’s team lost 2-0 to nationally-ranked Michigan State and then fell 3-0 Sunday to Michigan in the Michigan Invitational. He admits there are concerns about his team scoring goals, but he trying not to overemphasize the issue to his players.

“In the practice time we did have this week because of the rain we spent part of the time working on things like finishing,” said Morrow. “It is either feast or famine and when it is a feast it doesn’t seem like there is enough to go around.

“Scoring goals is always a concern for any coach. More so than scoring, there is a concern that we are creating chances. When looking at tape of Michigan State and Michigan we had plenty of opportunities. We have to do a better job of capitalizing on that.”

Morrow knows that the lack of goals is something on the minds of his players.

“We have addressed it,” said Morrow. “But if you let it consumer your thoughts the harder it is to find goals. I think if we keep playing the way we are playing the goals will come.”

In the back Morrow has been pleased with the play of sophomore Jeremy Reid and junior Garrett McLaughlin, two players he rates as the most consistent on the team playing as defenders and midfielders.

“Jeremy played a number of different positions in Michigan,” said Morrow. “Every aspect of his game he does pretty well. He defends pretty well. He attacks pretty well.

“Garrett has been pretty steady. He has been strong in the air. He has been vocal.”

Sunday afternoon at 2:30 the Bisons will face Alabama A &M. They are coming off a 1-0 loss Wednesday in Lexington against No. 22-ranked Kentucky.

“A &M is traditionally an athletic and dangerous team,” said Morrow. “They are good one vs. one. We will have to be very organized to deal with them. We will get a better look at what they are going to bring when they play Belmont.”